Leathers ?

[Cos]

I got DAS in two weeks and an SV650s waiting to be picked up from George Whites in Swindon and really can't wait (if there is a god please let me pass my test)

Obviously i need some leathers and i'm after some advice on what to look out for, brands to avoid and where i can get some that make me look like a mighty morphin power ranger.

They had a nice two piece alpinestars in Heine Gericke i saw yesterday but was a bit on the expensive side at about £700, do i need to spend this much or are there good cheaper brands ?

Cos

[steveo]

Before you start getting set on what you want i'd try a few different makes on. I found that Dainese and Arlen Ness trousers didn't fit me at all but Spyke ones were perfect. They set me back about £280, have a pair of sliders on that i will probably never use but i think they look pretty good :lol: :oops:

Not sure what the benefits are of more expensive leathers, besides paying a bit for the name i'd guess its something to do with the stitching, quality and thickness of the leather. I'd imagine someone with far more experience than me will be along to help.

[Cos]

I looked at the Spyke ones in a catalogue i got with one of the bike mags and they look good but havn't seen them in any shops where i can try them on. Will keep a look out for them though.

[steveo]

I got my spyke ones from George White up here in London so i would guess all their stores stock them, not sure if there is one near to you though. Alternatively if you have a look in the back of your catalogue i would imagine there is a list of stockists.

[Cos]

They said that as i am buying a bike off them that they will give me a 10% discount on anything else i buy in the store so i hope that they have some Spyke gear in there then.

[mysteryjimbo]

There's a company on ebay that does them for between £200 and £300. Really good value, excellent fit with excellent armour. If you do what i did and wait until end of season to get them, you could get them for £150.

They does custom pattern sets as well for around £300.

[steveo]

not sure if there is one near to you though.

Yep, didn't read your original post when i wrote that. :oops:

Anyway, sounds like the same deal i got. If they don't have any in they could probably order you some down from another store. As an added bonus the london store has a very attractive blonde lady working there :wink: :D

[Cloggsy]

Look here (http://search.ebay.co.uk/2-piece_Motorcycles-Clothing-Helmets_W0QQcatrefZC3QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypa geZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfromZR2QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQf trtZ1QQftrvZ1QQga10244Z10425QQsacatZ14784QQsbrftog Z1QQsocdpfcatZ14784QQsofocusZbs) - Save yourself a few quid into the bargain :wink:

[mysteryjimbo]

Look here (http://search.ebay.co.uk/2-piece_Motorcycles-Clothing-Helmets_W0QQcatrefZC3QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypa geZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfromZR2QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQf trtZ1QQftrvZ1QQga10244Z10425QQsacatZ14784QQsbrftog Z1QQsocdpfcatZ14784QQsofocusZbs) - Save yourself a few quid into the bargain :wink:

Yep, thats who i got mine off. Bargain price.

[DKrider]

I just picked up a brand new pair of Dainese 2 piece leathers on e-bay for £220 - normal price was about £700! Seems the guy who had sold them had changed bikes, so the colour scheme didin't match! Take a look in there - you could save a bundle!

[diamond]

Iwas tempted by e-bay but i'm a bit woried that they won't fit right. :?

[Jdubya]

Iwas tempted by e-bay but i'm a bit woried that they won't fit properly. :?

Yeah, I have the same concerns... :?

[Balky001]

I bought a Alpinestar SX1 one-piece on ebay for £400, normally retails between 785-825. I was worried about the fit but thought as it was brand new I could re-sell it anyway. Fits perfectly and I think sometimes you find certain makes fit better (depending on your shape) than others. I had SPIDI before which were OK, but the A* feel better made and the protection, especially around the legs,shins, is much better and more comfortable.

[SVeeedy Gonzales]

Bought an Akito leather jacket in a sale for £60 and Belstaff leather trousers for £130. Both fit really well and only downside is they don't zip together. Try lots of clothing on and you may well find that the cheaper stuff fits as well as or better than the pricey stuff.

The HG "Tricky" two piece suit was meant to be one of the best sets of leathers out there last year and is down in the catalogue for £200 for the pants and £220 for the jacket. That's what I'd be buying if I were looking right now... so long as it fitted me well! I hear their mail order sucks right now though... plus better to go into a branch and try the sizes on to be sure you like it and have the right size.

[Cos]

Thanks for the input guys

I'll have a look on eBay at the weekend and also check out what they have at George Whites when i go pay for the bike (hopefully this sunday).

[BURNER]

I bought a Frank Thomas leather jacket last year for £60- Mail order from BFM I think.
This year bought 2 piece Arlen Ness kit, £199- new, ebay. Spent £35- getting the legs altered to fit and now it's spot on. Also had the lettering on the legs removed, Looking like a power ranger is one thing. A branded power ranger, I don't think so!
Got a new pair of Alpinestar race boots off ebay for £70- less than RRP.
Had to go to H-G for gloves, damn stubby fingers..... D'oh!

[Warren]

RST are doing a full suit at the mo for 200 quid i believe.

i got some , there not bad at all.

[DKrider]

Fit was also my concern - but the best way to do sort that is to wander down to your local dealer and try on different make and sizes until you find whats right for you. My experience showed that the (especially italian) models can vary a lot - a 56 dainese is definetly not a 56 alpinestar and not close to a 56 Frank Thomas!

[DKrider]

Fit was also my concern - but the best way to do sort that is to wander down to your local dealer and try on different make and sizes until you find whats right for you. My experience showed that the (especially italian) models can vary a lot - a 56 dainese is definetly not a 56 alpinestar and not close to a 56 Frank Thomas!

[DKrider]

Fit was also my concern - but the best way to do sort that is to wander down to your local dealer and try on different make and sizes until you find whats right for you. My experience showed that the (especially italian) models can vary a lot - a 56 dainese is definetly not a 56 alpinestar and not close to a 56 Frank Thomas!

[northwind]

I get on pretty well with my Frank Thomas Strike suit... Does look a little cheap and the velcro's packed in but they stood up really well to being slid along Knockhill for about a hundred feet :) Or HG Tribals should be dirt cheap now.

Whatever you get, make sure it's properly armoured everywhere- don't overlook hip armour! Trust one who knows!

[goldengraemes]

RST are doing a full suit at the mo for 200 quid i believe.

i got some , there not bad at all.
i just bought a 2piece rst leathers not got jacket thats on order but the guy in the shop said leathers arent ment to be all saggy round the bum and there ment to be fairly fitted as they will give a little.they feel strange as they are fairly high waisted.do you find the knee protectors take some time to mold to you i find sometimes i have to adjust slightly after i put my foot down at the lights.i found with my richa ce armour ones after a month they took the shape of my knees better(i have knobly knees)

[Cloggsy]

Seems the guy who had sold them had changed bikes, so the colour scheme didin't match!

:roll: Power Ranger :toss:

[OF.uk]

I've had 2 sets of leathers off ebay. 1st set £50 and the guy delivered them personally for free!! Unfortunately they didn't fit properly but my m8 bought them from me :D 2nd set £50 fit much better but the armour wasn't up to much so I ended up swapping it for armour in another set I had at home (and hope to slim back down to fitting at some point :oops: ). I'd have no qualms about buying leathers off ebay as it can save a fortune and if they don't fit you can always sell them and get your money back. Bought a pair of Gerne boots off ebay last year in yellow black and silver for £5 :lol: :lol: :lol: , also a new fibreglass lid for £35...can't go far wrong, just be aware of nearly new sports bikes for ridiculously low prices from vendors who only accept bank transfers etc :wink:

[OF.uk]

Seems the guy who had sold them had changed bikes, so the colour scheme didin't match!

:roll: Power Ranger :toss:
So you've not got those silver leathers yet then Clive? :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[jakeblues68]

Had a trip to Bradford Hein Gerricke today(this is gerricke's end of line and clearance shop), got myself a one piece suit reduced from £399 to £100, also got an oxford tail pack for £10.

Chuffed :D :D :D

[Warren]

RST are doing a full suit at the mo for 200 quid i believe.

i got some , there not bad at all.
i just bought a 2piece rst leathers not got jacket thats on order but the guy in the shop said leathers arent ment to be all saggy round the bum and there ment to be fairly fitted as they will give a little.they feel strange as they are fairly high waisted.do you find the knee protectors take some time to mold to you i find sometimes i have to adjust slightly after i put my foot down at the lights.i found with my richa ce armour ones after a month they took the shape of my knees better(i have knobly knees)

yeah they do take a while to "wear in" , but so did every set of leathers ive owned.
they are quite high waisted i have to admit, but i am a short b****ard so its either that, or lose 4 stone to fit into them.
the jacket fits well over the trousers tho, and it zips up round the middle.
so just think of it as extra hip protection.

[goldengraemes]

yeah thanks for getting back to me on that they do feel stiff at the minute im going to ride to elvington from merseyside in a couple of weeks to watch the straightliners so oppertunity to give em a good run.
oh i ran a 13.63@94.9mph on my gilera too today! bit slower on 1/4 time but higher top speed so down to strip and set up for the day but good day.quickest by scooter engine was 12.5@101mph!!!!

[Stig]

I bought a set of IXS two piece leathers for £120 with full armour. They were good enough to save my life :wink:

Also bought a set of second hand leathers from EBay. When I got them found them to be too big so have spent their life in the cupboard.

[Biker Biggles]

You will probably grow into them :D Ive got a set of lookwells im trying to "slim down to" again,but they may end up on Ebay if I have to admit defeat.One thing I would go for if I was buying now is a fully vented set.Leathers are really hot in summer and you can allways put some waterproofs on to keep the wind off if it cools down.No excuse for not wearing em then either.